BWW Reviews: A.D. Player's THUMBELINA Excites and Exhilarates Younger Audiences

Scenic Design by Robin Gillock is simple but amazingly effective. The use of white screens and colored lights, designed by Mark A. Lewis, does a fantastic job showcasing setting. Also, it works beautifully for allowing Thumbelina, as a tiny human girl, to interact with Mother. They are on stage at the same time, but both acting in a way and using the set and lights to illustrate that Thumbelina is actually on the table. This effect works and is masterfully utilized.

Donna Southern Schmidt's Costume Design is simply perfect. Every piece is beautifully designed and constructed. The use of different period's fashions to indicate character is only bested by her use of color coordination for the characters. Simply put, the costuming is superb and worth the price of admission all on its own.

Katharine Hatcher's Property Design is excellent as well. It is perhaps best on display in the design of the Prince's rapier, which looks like something that a tiny person in a valley of flowers could construct and use.

A.D. Player's World Premiere of THUMBELINA is a show that will excite and exhilarate the younger audiences and even provides fun for the adults that bring them. For me, the best part of the evening was seeing the kids glow and react to the adventure happening on stage. This production is truly magical and something that the children of the Houston area will really enjoy.

A.D. Player's World Premiere of Will Ledesma and Braden Hunt's musical THUMBELINA runs until February 2, 2013 at the Grace Theater, 2710 W. Alabama, Houston, Texas. For more information and tickets please visit http://adplayers.org or call (713) 526 - 2721.

Photos by Bara Photography, courtesy of A.D. Players

L. Louise Jackson as Mama Frog and Kelsey Cratty as Thumbelina

Craig Griffin as Mole and Kelsey Cratty as Thumbelina

Jesse Merrill as the Prince, Kelsey Cratty as Thumbelina, and Craig Griffin as the Mole